{"id":157,"date":"2021-08-23T00:12:59","date_gmt":"2021-08-23T00:12:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.outdoorsniagara.com\/?p=157"},"modified":"2021-09-02T18:54:18","modified_gmt":"2021-09-02T18:54:18","slug":"bill_hilts_sundays","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.outdoorsniagara.com\/bill_hilts_sundays\/","title":{"rendered":"Bill Hilts Sundays"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\nBill<\/a> Hilts Jr. Thursdays ~
\nAll about the
\noutdoors
\n<\/font><\/font><\/b>
\nNote: Hilts is Niagara County’s Outdoor Sports
\nSpecialist Email Bill Hilts Jr.<\/a><\/font><\/p>\n


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\n <\/font><\/i><\/b>Live calls can also be taken
\nat 434-1733 on Wednesday afternoons. <\/p>\n

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\n

\nNote: This column is updated every week ~ 
\nBookmark it to come back!
\nLots of archived stories below ~ read ’em, they will be deleted as time goes by<\/font><\/p>\n


\n Go to
\nHilts Weekly Weekend Fish Locator page…Updated every Thursday on this website<\/a><\/b><\/font><\/p>\n

SOME Hilts Older Sunday archives are below on
\nthis page and will be deleted on occasion ~
\nRead ’em before they are gone!<\/font><\/b><\/p>\n


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SCATTERED NEWS AROUND WNY
\nNOVEMBER 24 201
\n<\/font>Bill Hilts Jr.<\/font><\/b><\/p>\n

\n\n\n
\n

Outdoors: Thanksgiving hunts stir vivid
\nmemoriesThanksgiving <\/font><\/b><\/p>\n

\n\"\"<\/p>\n

\n<<<<<<< <\/i><\/b>Jason Johannes of Ransomville took this
\nbuck from a Niagara County cornfield during opening weekend of the
\nregular season with his Remington muzzleloader. <\/b><\/i><\/p>\n

Outdoors: Thanksgiving hunts stir vivid memories\u2013 a time for
\ngiving thanks, sharing a bounty of food and making outdoor
\nexperiences. I thought about all of that and more this past weekend
\nwhile big-game hunting on the hills of southern Steuben County for
\nthe regular-season opener. It\u2019s a magical time of year for sure.
\nIt\u2019s a tradition that started for us more than five decades ago \u2013
\nthe same hill; the same tree in some cases. <\/p>\n

There were five of us huddled under different trees in the Town of
\nGreenwood when the sun finally came up on Saturday morning. It was
\nunusually mild out, making for more favorable conditions for the
\n\u201cveteran\u201d hunters in the group like Bill Hilts, Sr. of Sanborn. Just
\na month shy of his 85th birthday, the elder Hilts shared a little
\nexcitement and spark when preparing for this year\u2019s hunt. Health
\nissues kept him out of the woods last year. This was another chance
\nto chase whitetail deer again \u2026 and share memories of other hunts.
\nCamaraderie is an important part of every hunt. <\/p>\n

One memory involved a big 11-point buck that \u201cBig Bill\u201d took on
\nThanksgiving Day decades ago. However, his reflection was still as
\nvivid as if it was yesterday. Listening to the stories were Rick
\nHilts of North Tonawanda, Thure Larson of East Amherst, and, new to
\nthe group, Carl Mottern of Kenmore. Brother Dave Hilts of Burt was
\non call for road patrol in Newfane driving a snow plow so he
\ncouldn\u2019t make it. Don Starkey of Lockport, another long-time member
\nof the group, passed away last year after a bout with cancer. Art
\nHartley of Niagara Falls, one of the original members hunting this
\nhill, also passed on to the happy hunting grounds this past year.<\/p>\n

While those missing members were not there in body, they were there
\nin spirit. In fact, I hunted from a favorite tree of Starkey\u2019s on
\nSaturday afternoon while the wind was whipping up from Argos.
\nEarlier in the morning I hunted from my Dad\u2019s favorite hemlock \u2013 the
\nsame tree that he took that 11-point buck from (and many more over
\nthe years). It produced a doe this year. The spirits of past hunts
\nlive on as we remember these outdoor adventures and give our thanks
\nas only a true hunter can. <\/p>\n

Growing up in a hunting family, we never had Thanksgiving on
\nThursday. We spent our time hunting, giving thanks in a different
\nway. Our special family dinner would always take place on Sunday,
\nfollowing the hunt. While times have changed for us, every family,
\nevery group, settles in with their own ways of giving thanks. Here
\nare some other ways sportsmen in Western New York pay homage on this
\nspecial day:
\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n
\n\n\n
Ozarks \u2013 Part III – <\/font>
\nSee parts 1 and 2 below <\/u>
\n<\/font><\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cShow Me\u201d a Quest for Personal Best Bass
\n<\/font><\/b><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat goes around comes around.\u201d <\/b><\/p>\n

Many
\npeople believe in that statement and follow a path in life that
\nsubscribes to that way of thinking. To a certain extent, it
\nworked for Scott Pauley and me during our recent visit to the
\n\u201cShow Me\u201d State in and around Lake of the Ozarks, Missouri.
\nPauley, who is contracted out by the state\u2019s Division of Tourism
\nfor promoting its fishing resources (hint, hint I Love NY
\npeople), visited Niagara USA a few years ago on his way back
\nfrom attending the Outdoor Writers Association of America
\nconference in Lake Placid. He enjoyed a couple of days of
\nfishing, including some pretty darn good bass action on the
\nNiagara Bar, during his September stop-over. He offered to take
\nus out with the hopes of showing off his home state. More on
\nthat a little later. <\/p>\n

We ended Part II by checking in to Holiday Shores Resort
\n
\nwww.holidayshoresresort.com<\/a> , located between Osage Beach
\nand Lake Ozark. We unpacked the Tahoe and headed over to the
\nTropic Island, a 75-foot luxury yacht that offers 90-minute
\nnarrated cruises around the lake at a nominal fee. Capt. Omer
\nClark runs a tight ship and the trip was very informative
\n
\nwww.tropicislandcruises.com<\/a> . Back to our temporary home at
\nHoliday Shores. What was cool about this place was that we had
\nour choice of three different floors for sleeping options. <\/p>\n

We were up bright and early to meet up with Marjorie Beenders
\nand Kyle Stewart for breakfast (at Stewart\u2019s of course for
\nanother cinnamon roll and a pork chop breakfast) for a recap of
\nwhat we had experienced so far and plans for what was yet to
\ncome. Of course, they were happy the trip was going well \u2026 but
\nit\u2019s what they expected. They had much pride in the area, as
\nwell as the state. They couldn\u2019t wait to \u201cshow me\u201d more. <\/p>\n

Off to Lake of the Ozarks State Park
\nwww.mostateparks.com<\/a> ,
\nthe state\u2019s flag ship park at nearly 18,000 acres. Not only is
\nit the biggest, it is also the most popular as far as visitation
\nis concerned. I\u2019m still amazed that there is no fee to enter any
\nof the state parks in Missouri. A total of 12 hiking trails are
\navailable. That\u2019s not all though. The park offers up a
\nself-guided aquatic trail, mountain biking options and
\nequestrian trails for those that like to ride horses. The park
\nalso has boat rentals, public ramps and docks. Fishing is always
\njust a cast away. <\/p>\n

Inside the park was another attraction we needed to see: Ozark
\nCaverns. This one was entirely different than the Bridal Cave.
\nThere was no internal lighting (we had to carry lanterns on the
\ntour) and we couldn\u2019t take anything extra into the caverns (like
\nwallets or cameras) due to the threat of White-Nose Syndrome (WNS)
\nspores being carried out and transported to another area. WNS is
\ndecimating bat populations throughout the continent. Since it
\nwas first discovered in Howes Cave in New York in 2006, more
\nthan a million bats have already died. It\u2019s important to become
\ninformed on the issues. <\/p>\n

The tour itself was very interesting, featuring an impressive
\n\u201cangel shower\u201d \u2013 one of only 14 in the world and the only one in
\nthe United States open to the public. The \u201cangel shower\u201d pours a
\nnever-ending stream of water out of appears to be solid rock \u2026
\nand into a bath tub made of calcite. The source of the water,
\ndespite some intensive research, has not been discovered. For
\nmore information on the caverns, call 573-346-2500. <\/p>\n

After we left the caverns, we took a quick tour around the park
\nand visited the Swinging Bridges of Brumley \u2013 a historical
\nattraction off the beaten path. We actually caught some of the
\nlocals doing some \u201cbridge jumping\u201d (not recommended) as we drove
\nacross the 400 foot long antiquated structure. It has stood the
\ntest of time, an early adaptation to the construction of Lake of
\nthe Ozarks back in 1931. <\/p>\n

Not knowing how far we were from any kind of a gas station (and
\nwith our gas gauge flashing an early warning) we used Onstar to
\nlocate the nearest petrol store to avert any kind of
\nembarrassment. Technology can be wonderful. Onstar sent the
\nTahoe directions immediately to the navigation system and we
\nwere filling up within five minutes. We were closer to
\ncivilization than we thought. Tip: Check the gas tank <\/p>\n

We hit a couple of wineries during our stay, finding many of the
\nselections to our liking. Shawnee Bluff Winery
\n
\nwww.shawneebluffwinery.com<\/a>  in Lake Ozark offered a
\ngreat view overlooking the lake with an indoor tasting room and
\nbistro that was pleasing to the palate. There were several other
\nwineries in the area, too \u2013 a great way to break up the trip.<\/p>\n

While golfing didn\u2019t fit into our itinerary this time around,
\nthe area offered up some amazing courses. If you enjoy hitting
\nthe little white ball around, you\u2019ll want to check out this
\nregion for sure. The only golfing we did was at Sugar Creek for
\na quick round of miniature golf. Even those courses are
\nelaborate, giving us the option of two different 18-hole
\ncourses. (
\nwww.sugarcreekminigolf.com<\/a> . As we\u2019ve been saying all along,
\nfun for the whole family! <\/p>\n

Another side trip was to Tour L\u2019Osage Caviar facilities, a
\nsubsidiary to Osage Catfisheries, Inc. Founded by Jim Kahrs in
\n1953, the caviar side of things blossomed because of the
\ndeclining wild sturgeon populations in the Caspian Sea. In 1981,
\nthe family began paddlefish production \u2013 a fish found abundantly
\nin the lake \u2013 and started its \u201cpaddlefish ranching program\u201d in
\n1984. <\/p>\n

\u201cAquaculture is a huge part of our business right now,\u201d said
\nSteve Kahrs, part of the next generation of family running the
\nshow. \u201cWe have 32 different species of fish that we offer to
\naquariums and research facilities around the world. You can see
\nsome of our fish in Bass Pro and the aquarium in Scottsdale,
\nArizona to name but a few.\u201d <\/p>\n

The icing on the cake, so to speak, was the final fishing trip
\ncourtesy of Pauley. Big Ed Franko, Lake of the Ozarks fishing
\nguide (
\nwww.bigedsguideservice.com<\/a>  ) and co-owner of Bass &
\nBaskets Bed and Breakfast in Lake Ozark (
\nwww.bassandbaskets.com<\/a>
\n) with his wife, Deb, also offered to help take our little group
\nout in the morning before the sun chased us indoors. It was
\ngoing to be a hot one! <\/p>\n

We met at Big Ed\u2019s lakefront accommodation and boat dock. Pauley
\nwas already there. We hopped on board and within five minutes we
\nwere fishing. Laurie Calvert from Oregon City, Oregon was the
\nfirst to create excitement, hauling in a four and a half pound
\nlargemouth \u2013 her first fish ever! She was bouncing a rubber worm
\nalong the bottom. Her husband, Joe, will now have to include her
\non future fishing outings!! <\/p>\n

Everyone caught fish for the few hours we were on the water.
\nCrankbaits, swim baits and rubber worms were the three most
\npopular enticements. It was near the end of our trip when my rod
\ndoubled over while drifting a rubber worm in 25 feet of water.
\nSeveral times the fish stripped out line. Finally, after about a
\nfive minute battle, we pulled in a hefty six pound largemouth \u2013
\na personal best. What a great way to end our trip, after
\nexploring a new area and making new friends along the way.
\nThat\u2019s what it\u2019s all about. We can cross the Ozarks off of our
\nbucket list, but that doesn\u2019t mean we won\u2019t be back for some
\nmore fun in the sun \u2026 and on the water. Check out the Ozarks
\nConvention and Visitor Bureau\u2019s website at
\nwww.FunLake.com<\/a> ;
\n1-800-FUN-LAKE. <\/p>\n

Beginners Luck Reigns True for Summer Derby \u2026 Again
\n<\/b>
\nFor Chad Fenstermaker of Warren, Ohio, this was a maiden voyage
\non Lake Ontario out of Olcott, fishing with Capt. Mitch Shipman
\nof Signature Charters. Little did he realize he was about to
\nmake derby history by setting the pace in the 7th Annual Lake
\nOntario Counties (LOC) Summer Derby held July 1-31, 2016 \u2013
\nwinning the $10,000 Grand Prize by reeling in a 31 pound, 7
\nounce Chinook salmon the final weekend of the contest. They also
\nwon the $1,000 weekly salmon prize. <\/p>\n

It started Friday morning, July 29. Weather was a bit rough but
\nthey decided to head out in Shipman\u2019s 21-foot 2010 Ranger 620
\nnamed Signature Charters about 10 am. At around 12:30 pm,
\npulling a Raspberry Shadow Moonshine spoon 90 feet back on a
\ndispy diver set on No. 2 over 205 feet of water somewhere north
\nof Wilson off Niagara County, the big fish hit. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt took out over 500 feet of line when we hooked the winner,\u201d
\nsaid Fenstermaker, reeling in his first and biggest salmon ever.
\nHe told the crowd at Captain Jack\u2019s in Sodus Point that he will
\nsplit the Grand Prize with Captain Mitch. Fenstermaker is a
\nsignal maintenance employee for Norfolk Southern Railroad and is
\nalso in the Air Force Reserves. His share of the money will
\nprobably go for a honeymoon. He was married to his wife Rachel
\nlast November and they\u2019ve not had that special celebratory trip
\nyet. Remember Chad, Niagara Falls is the honeymoon capital \u2013 a
\nperfect place after your Niagara USA king! <\/p>\n

First place in the Salmon Division was Larry Wills of Lewiston,
\nNY with a 30 pound, 15 ounce king salmon reeled in on July 8.
\nThe fish held up in the race for Grand Prize for three weeks
\nbefore the last weekend heroics. Fishing with his brother-in-law
\nDon Stephenson and Timothy Wills aboard Wills\u2019 24-foot Penn Yan
\n\u201cReel Therapy,\u201d they made a last minute decision to take off
\nfrom work late in the day and meet at the Wilson launch ramp.
\n\u201cYou need a pass in the derby if you want to get on the boat,\u201d
\nsaid Wills at the awards gathering. \u201cIt was my biggest salmon
\never and it took about 40 minutes to bring to the net.\u201d They
\nwere fishing straight out from Wilson 40 feet down over 400 feet
\nof water with a purple colored Warrior spoon off the downrigger,
\nhooking the fish at 6:30 pm. They won $1,000 for first place
\nplus $1,000 for the weekly salmon prize. <\/p>\n

Top Youth salmon catcher was Nicolas Curtiss of Overland Park,
\nKansas with a 28 pound, 5 ounce fish reeled in off Olcott while
\nfishing with Capt. Vince Pierleoni and Thrillseeker on a spin
\ndoctor and A-Tom-Mik fly. He placed 13th overall in the
\ndivision. John Powell of Niagara Falls, NY weighed in the
\nlargest salmon by a Lake Ontario Trout and Salmon Association
\nmember to win an extra $500 in addition to his 11th place
\nwinnings. The fish checked in at 28 pounds, 8 ounces and was
\ncaught out of Wilson. It was interesting to note that the 20th
\nplace salmon weighed in at 27 pounds, 7 ounces. <\/p>\n

In the Brown Trout Division, Guy Witkiewitz of Ontario, NY set
\nthe pace by reeling in a personal best 18 pound, 14 ounce
\nbrownie to win the $1,000 first place prize and the $250 weekly
\nprize. Second place Brown Trout went to Thomas Gies of Ann
\nArbor, Michigan with a 17 pound, 6 ounce. He caught the fish on
\nJuly 3 and it held up almost the entire derby. Fishing with
\nCapt. Dan Evans of Lone Wolf Fishing Charters out of Wilson,
\nthey were trolling over 220 feet of water \u2013 an unusual place for
\na big brown \u2013 especially since they had been catching salmon.
\nGies\u2019 personal-best brown bit an Ice Shadow Moonshine spoon 45
\nfeet down. They were fishing out of Evans\u2019 32 foot Luhrs that
\nsports the name \u201cLone Wolf.\u201d <\/p>\n

Top Youth Brown also came in through some unique circumstances.
\nAdam Flachbart of Fairview Park, Ohio was casting off the pier
\nin Olcott with his dad when a 14 pound, 5 ounce trout grabbed
\nhold of his Yo-Zuri crankbait \u2013 \u201ca color they don\u2019t make any
\nmore.\u201d While the fish didn\u2019t make the Top 20, he still received
\na nice trophy for his efforts. <\/p>\n

In the Lake Trout Division, the winning catch this time around
\ncame from Henderson Harbor as the east and the west continue to
\nhave a slug-fest from derby to derby. Ephraim Burt of Watertown
\nwas fishing with angling buddies Chuck Trump and Joe Sabadish
\ntook the lead on July 16 and never looked back when they weighed
\nin a 24 pound, 3 ounce laker. Second place laker went to the
\nWestern Basin when Bob Turton of Sanborn registered a 23 pound,
\n7 ounce fork-tail, a fish he caught with his father (Roger) on
\nJuly 3 for the early lead. Fishing from their 19-foot Crestliner
\nnamed \u201cRT and Son,\u201d they were trolling the Niagara Bar with a
\ngreen Kwikfish lure in 80 feet of water. They caught the fish at
\n10:30 am and it took them about 15 minutes to reel the fish to
\nthe net. \u201cDad\u201d also managed to place a fish on the board, a 19
\npound, 1 ounce laker that finished in 12th. <\/p>\n

The Rainbow-Steelhead Division saw a tight battle for first.
\nWade Winch of North Tonawanda was crowned the overall champ by
\nvirtue of his 17 pound, 10 ounce personal best trout. He caught
\nthe winning fish with Pete Baio while fishing out of a 21 foot
\nCruisers named \u201cS & K.\u201d They were trolling off Wilson in 180
\nfeet of water using a purple Dreamweaver spoon behind a slide
\ndiver set back 185 feet on a No. 2.5 setting. It hit their
\noffering at 8 am. This was the first time the two anglers fished
\ntogether. <\/p>\n

Just two ounces back for second place was Alfonse Gouker of N.
\nVersailles, Pennsylvania. He caught the personal best steelie
\nout of Olcott while fishing with Dave Pasquale (Captain Dave)
\nand John Cyprowski aboard Captain Dave\u2019s 24 foot Imperial boat
\nnamed \u201cWay-In.\u201d They were fishing straight out from Olcott in
\n230 feet of water using a spin doctor and green A-Tom-Mik fly
\nbehind a dipsy diver set on No. 3 and pulled behind 220 feet of
\nline. They caught the fish at 9 am. Gouker was driving the boat
\nwhen he jumped up to grab the rod. <\/p>\n

Top Youth division catch was a 16 pound, three ounce fish
\nwinched in by Francis Holly IV of Wilson. It ended up in 4th
\nplace overall. Fishing straight out of Wilson with his father,
\nFrancis Holly III, they were in 90 feet of water, using
\ndownriggers 40 feet down with green Stinger spoons when they hit
\na double \u2013 a salmon and a steelhead. They boated both with a lot
\nof luck. Francis III also placed 15th in the Steelhead Division
\nwith a 12 pound, 5 ounce fish. They were fishing out of their
\n21-foot Sea Nymph named \u201cBlue.\u201d <\/p>\n

Next up on the derby calendar is the \u201cReturn of the King\u201d Fall
\nLOC Trout and Salmon contest slated for August 19 through Sept.
\n5. Over $66,000 in cash will be up for grabs including a $25,000
\ncheck for the largest salmon; daily prizes for largest salmon
\n($500), brown trout ($200) and steelhead ($200). For more
\ninformation or to find a list of weigh stations and registration
\noutlets, go to the derby website at
\nwww.loc.org<\/a> <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\n\n

\nSUNDAY JULY 31 2016<\/font><\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n\n\n

\nLake of the Ozarks \u2013 <\/font>
\nPart II<\/font> <\/font>
\n…….See Part l just below this
\nstory<\/font><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n
\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n

\n<\/p>\n

\nOld Kinderhook with Tahoe;
\nand golf course view from our room
\n <\/td>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n<\/p>\n

Ruins at Ha Ha Tonka <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n\n\n
\n

\n
\nOur Lodging and Chevy Tahoe<\/td>\n

\n

\n
\nBridal Cave<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

\nAttractions Abound Above – and Below \u2013 Missouri\u2019s
\nSurface <\/font><\/b><\/p>\n

Photo
\n– Casey Scanlon with a nice Ozarks largemouth.<\/b><\/font> <\/p>\n

Leaving Alhonna Resort on the shores of Lake of the Ozarks was
\nbittersweet. We felt we had only scratched the surface and we begged
\nfor more as we pulled away in our Chevy Tahoe. The Tahoe was made
\nfor this terrain. Every driveway seemed perpendicular along the
\nlake, dealing with the tops of the hills that now surrounded the
\nlake after the valleys below were flooded back in 1931. We were
\ndriving the 2016 LTZ version, a perfect fit for two couples with
\nlots of luggage. Of course, with a third seat in the back, it\u2019s also
\na great vehicle for the family. The 5.3 Liter V-8 VVT with direct
\ninjection and cylinder deactivation gave us the power we needed. We
\ncould have trailered up to 8,600 pounds had we wanted to \u2026 and the
\nnext trip we just might have a pontoon boat fully loaded. <\/p>\n

Our first stop for the morning was a breakfast that legends are made
\nof. Kyle Stewart (no relation) who had put together an itinerary for
\nus, recommended a place in Lake Ozark called Stewart\u2019s. We were told
\nto order their famous cinnamon rolls, as big as a \u201ccatcher\u2019s mitt.\u201d
\nSandy and I ordered one to split; Joe and Laurie Calvert split one
\nas well. No exaggeration, they were bigger than a catcher\u2019s mitt!
\nMore like a soccer ball! And they were delicious. I also ordered
\ntheir famous pork tenderloin smothered in gravy (if my doctor is
\nreading this, I did have plenty of exercise to work it off as you
\nwill read about). It covered the plate. Not your standard dinner
\nplates \u2026 one of the big oval ones! Hash browns and toast rounded out
\nthe monster platter. Yes, I\u2019m a food guy and I appreciate quality.<\/p>\n

As we stuffed ourselves back into the Tahoe, we realized we wouldn\u2019t
\nneed lunch. The next part of the lake we would visit was the area in
\nand around Camdenton. The first attraction we came to was Bridal
\nCave ( www.bridalcave.com<\/a> ),
\none of the largest caves in the state. Missouri has a wealth of
\ncaves and caverns, hitting the 7,000 mark just recently. When it\u2019s
\nall said and done, the Show Me state will be number one when it
\ncomes to overall numbers within Missouri boundaries. This cave was
\ncool \u2013 literally and figuratively. Calcite deposits with
\nstalactites, stalagmites, soda straws and so much more mesmerized
\nfolks on the tour. There was a connection with Western NY where they
\nannounced the \u201cFrozen Niagara\u201d calcite formation. More than 2,500
\ncouples have been married in Bridal Cave or renewed their vows \u2013
\nanother connection with the Honeymoon Capital. This is a must see
\nfor the entire family. <\/p>\n

Geologically speaking, Missouri is littered with a \u201ckarst\u201d
\ntopography, a landscape that is filled with sinkholes, caves,
\nnatural bridges, large springs and underground streams. Many of the
\ncaves in the state can be found on private land. However, there are
\nmany on public land, too. For example, nearby Ha Ha Tonka State Park
\n\u2013 recently named by USA Today readers as the fourth best state park
\nin the country \u2013 has 19 caves recorded within its boundaries \u2026 so
\nfar ( www.mostateparks.com<\/a>
\n). It was a beautiful park and we even hiked up a castle trail that
\ntook us up to old ruins on a bluff overlooking the Niangua arm of
\nLake of the Ozarks, a spot we would be fishing the next morning. <\/p>\n

When we stopped into the Visitors Center at Ha Ha Tonka, we
\nimmediately found out that there is no admission fee into any of the
\nstate parks in Missouri, thanks to a dedicated funding source (with
\nthe exception of camping sites). The public land was just that, for
\nthe public to use. What a novel idea. With 88 parks in the state,
\nthey will be celebrating a milestone next year (2017) \u2013 100 years of
\nthe state\u2019s natural and cultural attractions. Pick up a copy of the
\nstate\u2019s Parks Centennial Passport. Earn a stamp by visiting each of
\nthose parks and the first 1,000 people receive a prize. Five grand
\nprizes will be up for grabs, too. Last year, some 19 million people
\nvisited Missouri parks (
\nwww.mostateparks.com<\/a> ). <\/p>\n

Next stop was our accommodations for the evening \u2013 Old Kinderhook (
\nwww.oldkinderhook.com<\/a> ).
\nIf you are looking for quality in the way of lodging, golf, fishing
\nand dining options, this facility was top notch. The golf course is
\nranked second in the state and our fishing guide was none other than
\nCasey Scanlon, a Bassmaster Elite Series Pro who lives on the lake.
\nIf you want to treat yourself to something special, this place was
\namazing \u2013 really! After checking in, we enjoyed one of the best
\nmeals we\u2019ve had in a long, long time in the Trophy Room \u2013 fine
\ndining at its best. Accolades came pouring out after that meal from
\nall four of us. <\/p>\n

Bright and early the next morning, Scanlon picked Joe and me up at
\nsunrise to fish the lake. This is his home waters and he won the
\nBassmaster Open on nearby Table Rock Lake a few years ago.
\nOriginally from Kansas City, he\u2019s been fishing the Elite Series for
\nfive years now. In fact, he had just returned from the Elite Series
\nevent on Cayuga Lake in New York in June. <\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a great body of water to fish,\u201d said Scanlon as he reeled
\nin his first fish, a largemouth, five minutes into the trip. For
\nthis time of year, large rubber worms on a jig head was a favorite
\nenticement. \u201cThe lake is over 90 miles long, great for largemouth
\nand spotted bass. My favorite time is November and December when
\nspinnerbaits and top waters work the best. April and May is also
\nexcellent when suspended jerk baits will dominate as a favorite
\ntechnique. To give you an idea about how this lake fishes, it
\nconsistently takes 20 pounds or more per day to win a tournament
\nhere. There are lots of three and four pounders here and you can
\ncatch fish up to and over 10 pounds. In fact, two 10 pounders have
\nbeen weighed in already this year. Fishing has really been great
\nthis season because of the added water flow coming through the
\nsystem because of the heavy rains earlier.\u201d <\/p>\n

Almost on cue, Calvert\u2019s rod doubled over and he fought a monster
\nunder Scanlon\u2019s Nitro Bass Boat. When it finally came to net, it was
\nover four pounds \u2013 Joe\u2019s personal best. After a couple of quick
\npictures, we released the fish to fight another day. <\/p>\n

Primary forage in the lake for these bass is gizzard shad and the
\npreferred food source. There are also threadfin shad. An underrated
\nfish in these waters is walleye \u2026 and no one fishes for them. If
\nsomeone came in here and targeted walleye, the potential is very
\ngood. Night fishing could be a way to approach old marble eye, but
\nthere may be some competition. Because the lake has turned into a
\nrecreational playground for watercraft during the middle part of the
\nday, some bass tournaments are now being held at night to deal with
\nthe mid-day turbulence and battle the heat. Heat index during the
\nhottest part of the day would hit over 100 degrees and one day it
\nhit 108. It didn\u2019t stop us from enjoying ourselves though. <\/p>\n

Back to the hotel for breakfast and check-out. Again, we didn\u2019t want
\nto leave. Next stop on our Ozarks experience was Holiday Shores
\nResort 
\nwww.holidayshoresresort.com<\/a> ), another quality experience but
\nentirely different from the other two accommodations we sampled.
\nOwner Lori Piedt runs an excellent operation, featuring 26 cottages
\noverlooking the lake at Osage Beach. It was like living in an exotic
\nfully-equipped tree house for a few days! Again, the facility was
\nwell equipped as a one stop shop for families to enjoy the waters of
\nthe lake or relax in the uniquely-shaped cottages. Every cottage has
\nan outside deck with a grill and one night we cooked up burgers as
\nthe sun set. What a relaxing time. <\/p>\n

Holiday Shores offers visitors the opportunity to rent one of its 20
\ncovered and fully electric boats slips at a nominal price. There is
\na boat launch available for guests if you bring your own boat or jet
\nski. They also rent paddleboards, paddleboats and chill rafts. There
\nis a swimming pool or you can take advantage of a swim dock in the
\nlake. Our last part of the trip will wind down next week \u2026 with a
\npersonal best largemouth bass! Check out the Ozarks Convention and
\nVisitor Bureau\u2019s website at
\nwww.FunLake.com<\/a> ; 1-800-FUN-LAKE. <\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n\n\n

\nSUNDAY JULY 21 2016…..Part l<\/font><\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n
\n\n\n
\n
\nLake of the Ozarks Region Offers Water Sports,
\nFamily Fun and Mor<\/font><\/b><\/p>\n

*<\/font> \u201cThere’s a beauty in the river
\nThere’s a beauty in the stream
\nThere’s a beauty in the forest at night
\nWhen the lonely nightbird screams
\nAnd there’s so much time for singin’
\nAnd so much time for words
\nThere’s so much time to listen
\nAnd so much time to be heard\u201d<\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

 *<\/font><\/b>Ozark Mountain Daredevils<\/p>\n

Growing
\nup in the \u201cLand of the Ozarks\u201d had to offer a certain amount of
\ninspiration for the band Ozark Mountain Daredevils. After a
\nrecent visit to Central Missouri, we could certainly relate to
\nthose lyrics. We could even add a verse or two of our own as we
\nspent a week in and around the Lake of the Ozarks \u2013 the largest
\nmanmade lake in North America. The state motto \u2013 \u201cShow Me\u201d \u2013 was
\nfulfilled time and time again \u2026<\/p>\n

It started with a gentle prodding by Marjorie Beenders, a
\ntourism maven in the state who kept asking when we were going to
\ncome and visit \u2026 every time we saw her. After doing a little
\nresearch on the lake and the region, we couldn\u2019t take it any
\nlonger. We graciously accepted her invitation to check out \u201cthe
\nbest recreational lake in the nation.\u201d That was after a national
\nvote conducted by two separate groups \u2013 USA Today and 10Best. It
\nwould live up to its name.<\/p>\n

After a week that was jam-packed with activities, where do you
\neven start? At the beginning of course! We left Lockport in a
\n2016 Chevy Tahoe LTZ packed to the gills, picking up Joe and
\nLaurie Calvert of Oregon City, Oregon at the St. Louis airport
\nalong the way, adding even more luggage. The drive from New York
\nwas roughly 17 hours and it was a comfort ride all the way. We
\nwere impressed with the various alerts on the vehicle including
\nthe blind side zone that flashed warning in our mirrors and gave
\nus gentle vibrations whenever some threat became available on
\nthe road or in parking lots. More on the vehicle later.<\/p>\n

We arrived at Lake Ozark and our first destination, the Alhonna
\nResort and Marina
\nwww.TheAlhonnaResort.com<\/a>  in the middle of a
\nthunderstorm. It had been so long since we had seen rain, we
\ndidn\u2019t mind the drops as we hurriedly unloaded the vehicle.
\nTiming is everything as the rain stopped long enough to finish
\nthe job. After a great breakfast outside at the in-house
\n\u201cBobbers\u201d Restaurant, we headed out to Willmore Lodge
\nwww.willmorelodge.com<\/a>
\n) at Bagnell Dam \u2013 where it all began for Lake of the Ozarks.
\nAlong the way, we continued to find New York connections, like
\nthe fact that this lodge was an Adirondack-style lodge that was
\nnow a museum documenting the formation of the lake back in 1931
\n(a lodge built in 1930).<\/p>\n

The dam (that created the lake) was actually built from 1929 to
\n1931, employing some 40,000 people along the way \u2013 at a time
\nwhen the country desperately needed it. Workers from every
\nstate, as well as from 9 countries, were employed, making it the
\nlargest and last major dam in America built entirely with
\nprivate financing. To make this project happen, 22 different
\ntowns and villages had to be destroyed and relocated.
\nApproximately 30,000 acres of timber land had to be cleared.
\nOver 900 miles of fences and numerous buildings had to be
\nremoved. A total of 32 cemeteries were moved to higher ground
\nalong with other scattered graves. <\/p>\n

When the dam was finally completed, the Osage River provided
\nmost of the water. It took three months to fill up. The end
\nresult was a lake that was 94 miles long, providing 1,375 miles
\nof shoreline. Average depth is 60 feet. It is almost entirely
\nprivately owned as far as the shoreline is concerned, allowing
\nresidents to build properties within a few feet of the water.
\nAlhonna was a good example of that, allowing us to sit on a
\nporch overlooking the water \u2026 and fish if we wanted to. In the
\nneighboring cabin, we watched them fish off a similar porch and
\nreel in bass and bluegill on a consistent basis. <\/p>\n

After a little driving around to get our bearings, we headed
\nback to Alhonna to take a paddleboat out for a couple of hours.
\nJoe and I opted to not take fishing rods for this trip because
\nof the funny looks we received from the ladies when we mentioned
\ntrolling. We also made arrangements to take out a fishing
\npontoon boat the next morning to really get a feel for the lake
\nfrom the water and do a little fishing along the way. <\/p>\n

The next day started with another breakfast at Bobbers following
\nby gathering up all the gear for the pontoon boat ride. Since it
\nwas early morning, the lake hadn\u2019t really come alive with
\nactivity yet. It was peaceful as we motored 10 miles up the
\nlake. As I rigged up a rod for Joe, I sent a crankbait toward a
\ndowned tree along the shoreline \u2013 explaining the use of the
\nspinning rod along the way. It took about 15 seconds to catch my
\nfirst fish, a nice largemouth that hit a new Berkley bait that
\nmimicked a small shad, the top forage in the lake. It proved to
\nbe the winner for the daily scratch-off contests that filled our
\ntime in Missouri. <\/p>\n

We motored to different areas around the lake, hoping to find
\nsome active fish along the way. Magnificent homes stood out as
\nsentinels to the lake. We all agreed it was a beautiful area
\nwith lots of potential. It should be on everyone\u2019s bucket list
\nof places to visit. In fact, Sandy went so far as to say that if
\nwe won the lottery, we would be getting a home here.<\/p>\n


\nAlhonna
\nResort<\/b> has everything you need to spend some quality time
\nwith family and friends. The facility offers up a full service
\nmarina with over 25 rental boats \u2013 everything from bass boats
\nand pontoon fishing boats to ski boats, pleasure pontoons and
\ndeck boats. Non-motorized water craft is also part of the mix
\nincluding kayaks, paddleboards and the paddleboats we sampled.
\nIn addition, there\u2019s a nice pool both indoors and out to cool
\noff in \u2013 something we needed for the week we were there. And if
\nyou show up when the weather is a little cooler, they even have
\nan enclosed fishing dock with wood stoves! It seems as though
\nMike and Sheryl Elia have thought of everything in the 37 years
\nthat they\u2019ve been running the operation. Our cabin made us feel
\nright at home with a full kitchen and more. It was both clean
\nand comfortable. The hospitality was top notch.<\/p>\n

Our final evening at Alhonna was a light show offered by Mother
\nNature herself as a spectacular lightning display lit the skies
\nall around us. Three nights went much too quickly and we wanted
\nto stay longer \u2026 but like we mentioned earlier, we were just
\nscratching the surface. It was time to move on. We\u2019ll continue
\nwith part two next week. In the meantime, check out the Ozarks
\nConvention and Visitor Bureau\u2019s website at
\nwww.FunLake.com<\/a>  ;
\n1-800-FUN-LAKE. We were singing our way to the second phase of
\nour journey \u2026<\/p>\n

 <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

SUNDAY SPECIAL <\/font>
\n06\/0512<\/font><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n
 <\/p>\n


\nNew York\u2019s 1000 Islands \u2013 Food for Thought for
\nVacationing <\/font><\/b><\/p>\n

<<<
\nEarly A room with a view … from the hotel at first light<\/b><\/font><\/p>\n

\nIt was time to revisit the 1000 Islands again. This favorite area
\nhas been filled with outdoor memories since I graduated from high
\nschool. Camping and fishing top the list of past activities, but the
\nlist of things to see and do have expanded over the years. The
\nThousand Islands Region of New York State has a long, storied
\nhistory as a premier vacation destination \u2013 combining a picturesque
\nsetting with a lengthy tradition of outdoor enjoyment, especially as
\nit relates to the St. Lawrence River as it carries the fresh water
\nfrom the five Great Lakes out into the Atlantic Ocean. While the
\npast may conjure up a mystique of monster muskellunge and a bonanza
\nof bass and other fish species, it is what the present offers that
\nhelped enhance a recent visit to Clayton this spring \u2013 based out of
\nthe amazing Thousand Islands Harbor Hotel for a second time. What a
\ndifference from tent camping over four decades ago! <\/p>\n

The new hotel was outstanding yet again 
\n
\nwww.1000islandsharborhotel.com<\/a> , offering up 105 deluxe guest
\nrooms and suites to visitors to the area. The facility was designed
\nin such a way that a majority of the rooms face toward the majestic
\nriver. My favorite aspect of the hotel was the Riverside Patio that
\neven allowed for a meal despite a little cooler temperatures \u2026 and a
\nperfect place for a sunset. Open air gas fire pits burned brightly
\nin the fresh air as we relaxed and sampled some great food options.
\nThroughout this Hart Hotel complex, there were pictures of \u201cthe good
\nold days\u201d that reminded guests about those times gone by \u2013 but not
\nforgotten. The Clayton area is one that remembers its roots very
\nwell, a lesson we can all learn from. All visitors have an
\nopportunity to learn about the rich history the area offers. <\/p>\n

One of our side trips was an afternoon casting some new Yo-Zuri hard
\nbaits at Lucky Star Lake, a standout attraction at Lucky Star Ranch
\nin Chaumont, just a short drive away from historic Clayton. This
\n2,000 acre wildlife preserve offers both hunting and fishing for
\ncustomers. Angling action takes place on a 100-acre lake that\u2019s
\nloaded with bass, pike, crappie and other panfish. We were greeted
\nby \u201cBird,\u201d a friendly black lab who lives for retrieving. While her
\nspecialty is rocks and dropping them on your feet (steel-toed shoes
\nare advised), this time around it was sticks. The first one was over
\n8 feet long and difficult to throw. We broke off a smaller piece and
\nstarted the process of throwing to Bird. My wife Sandy and I
\nalternated stick-tossing with casting and my better half did great
\nreeling in largemouth bass that kept her busy. I was keeping Bird
\nbusy \u2026 or maybe it was the other way around. Either way, we had a
\ngreat time outdoors that left my wife saying, \u201cWhen can we go
\nfishing again?\u201d <\/p>\n

Lucky Star (
\nwww.luckystarranch.com<\/a> ) was recently acquired by Otis
\nTechnologies ( www.otistec.com<\/a>
\n). Doreen and Jody Garrett were wonderful hosts. This was a company
\nthat was started by Doreen when she was just 16 years old. For those
\nof you not familiar with Otis, it\u2019s main focus was on firearms
\ncleaning \u2013 a low cost, lightweight and efficient gun cleaning system
\nthat you can take into the field with you should you encounter a
\nmishap \u2026 like she did all those years ago when she was hunting with
\nher father. The company, based out of Lyons Falls, NY has many more
\nproducts and the newest focuses on hearing protection. One example
\nis the new Ear Shield. The Sound Reduction Chamber Technology does
\nnot require any kind of batteries and it does everything you need to
\nprotect your ears. I think they would be great around the house,
\ntoo, for my wife when she is mowing the lawn or using the chain saw.<\/p>\n

A second form of hearing protection was called Flugz. They are
\nform-fitted ear plugs that you perform the work yourself \u2013 easily
\nand efficiently \u2013 to personalize the reasonably-priced plugs to your
\nown ears. Check these things out because there is something there
\nthat will work for you \u2026 and your wife. <\/p>\n

Back to the fishing. The St. Lawrence River has a long, storied
\nhistory with angling. This is the place that Arthur Lawton caught
\nhis impressive 69 pound, 15 ounce muskellunge back in 1957 \u2013 a
\nrecord that still stands today in the Empire State. On this weekend,
\nit was the opener of walleye and northern pike. However, this area
\nis also more laid back than many tourist destinations as far as the
\nguiding community. When I contacted Allen Benas with 1000 Islands
\nFishing Charters, he didn\u2019t have his boat in and he couldn\u2019t find
\nanyone else that did either. That\u2019s not to say there isn\u2019t good
\nfishing available this time of year. There is. For walleye, some of
\nthe best action is around the horn near Henderson Harbor and around
\nthe mouth of the Black River. With the Lake Ontario Counties Trout
\nand Salmon Derby going on at the time, anyone targeting walleye will
\nneed to fish there if they want the best chance to win. In fact the
\nwinner was an 11 pound, 14 ounce \u2018eye caught from there on opening
\nday. Check out www.loc.org<\/a>  to
\nsee the final leaderboard. <\/p>\n

Local wineries are making a name for themselves, too. This time
\naround it was the Thousand Islands Winery (
\n
\nwww.thousandislandswinery.com<\/a> ) that we took a taste of. If you
\nlike dry whites (to go with your seafood of course), you\u2019ll want to
\nsample their Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio or semi-dry Riesling \u2013 all
\napproving to our palate. There are many other things to sample
\nthere, an operation in the shadow of the 1000 Islands International
\nBridge. <\/p>\n

An important part of all my getaways \u2013 short or long \u2013 is the food.
\nAnyone who knows me knows that I like to even use dining
\nestablishments as important waypoints and landmarks for giving
\ndirections or to know where I am at all times. This time around was
\nno different, starting with The Clipper Inn in Clayton. This was a
\nfine dining establishment that I\u2019ve never had the pleasure to
\nsample, a restaurant that has been in the Simpson family for 35
\nyears. However, the Simpson family is native to the 1000 Islands
\narea and goes back even further. Mary was our waitress and she gave
\nexcellent recommendations, starting with our Seafood Pate appetizer
\nand on to our entrees. My salad was slathered with, of course, 1000
\nIsland dressing. I had a king crab and Delmonico steak combo that
\nwas to die for; Sandy had a Boston cod that was exquisite. As is
\nusually the case when the food is this good, I ate way too much. If
\nyou are in the area, this comes highly recommended. Check out
\nwww.clipperinn.com<\/a> . You
\nwill need reservations. <\/p>\n

Our Saturday evening dinner was also exemplary, with the icing on
\nthe cake being on the water as the name suggests: Channelside. The
\nview is mesmerizing; the food very good. We started things out with
\nsome Channelside Chips that were reminiscent of nachos, but with a
\npersonalized touch\/flavor. We also had Bang Bang Shrimp that was a
\ngreat treat. Dinner was a perch dinner for me and a haddock fish fry
\nfor Sandy, both would have left us begging for more \u2026 if we could
\nhave finished both. Another must-eat location and you can check it
\nout at
\nwww.thechannelside.com<\/a> . Our waitress was Lori, also a great
\nserver. This can make or break a meal no matter how good the food
\nis. <\/p>\n

Breakfasts were at the Koffee Kove Restaurant where owner Laurie
\nruns a tight ship with more good eats. While muskellunge fishing was
\nout of season, the Musky Breakfast wasn\u2019t. Give it a try. The
\nEverything Omelet was their version of a garbage plate that was also
\nvery appealing if you have a hearty appetite in the morning. They\u2019ve
\nbeen around for 44 years so they must be doing something right. We
\nlove finding new restaurants that we can find our way around town
\nby. And let\u2019s not forget the 1000 Islands Harbor Hotel either \u2013 more
\ngood food to chew on if you want to stay close to your lodging. <\/p>\n

No stop would be complete without a visit to the 1000 Islands River
\nRat Cheese shop. Their aged cheddars are scrumptious and there\u2019s
\nalways something new that ends up in our cooler for the trip home.
\nThe fresh cheese curds are to die for (at least if I listened to my
\ndoctor)! To see the wide selection of products go to
\nwww.riverratcheese.net<\/a> .<\/p>\n

This is only the tip of the iceberg (lettuce \u2013 with Thousands
\nIslands dressing of course) when it comes to what the area has to
\noffer. You can find out more offerings at the Chamber of Commerce
\nwebsite at www.1000islands-clayton.com. This area is also part of
\nJefferson County, featuring other locations like Sackets Harbor,
\nHenderson Harbor, Watertown and Alexandria Bay. Ask for a travel
\nguide at
\nwww.visit1000islands.com<\/a>  or by calling 800-847-5263. I can
\nthink of thousands of reasons to spend more time there, making
\nreturn trip after return trip!
\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n\n\n

\nFederation Recognizes Conservation Stewards; Dinner
\nSet
\n<\/font><\/b>
\nThe Niagara County Federation of Conservation Club, representative
\nof some 27 different clubs and organizations involved with
\nconservation, fishing, hunting and the shooting sports, takes the
\ntime out every year to seek out people and groups for their stellar
\nefforts in making our outdoors a better place; protecting our
\nnatural resources; protecting our Second Amendment rights; serving
\nsportsmen and women behind the scenes. They are not looking for
\nrecognition. These are individuals and groups who go above and
\nbeyond the call of duty. This is not the column that goes into
\ndetail, this is the initial acknowledgement that lets people know
\nwho the winners are for the Niagara County Federation of
\nConservation Clubs. <\/p>\n

In the past, we would select the winners and it would be a surprise
\nduring the banquet. However, after much discussion, we decided to
\nlet the people know in advance so that they could inform their
\nfamily and friends to let them know about the recognition. It gives
\nthe clubs an opportunity to show their support for a deserving
\nindividual, too. <\/p>\n

That said, here are the winners for 2015. If you know any of these
\npeople and you want to come out and share in the celebration, you\u2019ll
\nfirst want to mark April 16 on your calendar. Social hour starts at
\n5:30 pm; dinner starting at 6:30 pm. Deadline for registering is
\nApril 2 and there will be no tickets available at the door \u2013 advance
\nsales only. The site for this year\u2019s banquet will be the Terry\u2019s
\nCorners Volunteer Fire Company hall located at 7801 Chestnut Ridge
\nRd., Gasport. Contact person is Dave Whitt at 754-2133 for securing
\nyour tickets in advance. And the winners are \u2026 <\/p>\n

Oliver Jones Memorial Award (Sportsperson of the Year) \u2013 Joel
\nWinters, Hartland Conservationists Club. <\/p>\n

Leroy Winn Memorial Award (Club of the Year) \u2013 North Forest Rod and
\nGun Club, Lockport. <\/p>\n

Carl Lass Memorial Award (Youth Program of the Year) \u2013 Jim \u201cBruno\u201d
\nBurnett of North Forest Rod and Gun . <\/p>\n

Pinky Robinson Memorial Award for dedication to Great Lakes fishery
\n\u2013 Dr. John Whiteman, Niagara River Anglers Assn. <\/p>\n

James Reed\/Donald Meyer Memorial Award (Firearms Hunter Safety
\nTraining Instructor) \u2013 Ron Meegan, Tonawanda (a member of the
\nLaSalle Sportsmen\u2019s Club and Wilson Conservation Club). <\/p>\n

Steve Fountain\/Archie Lowery Memorial Award (Archery Hunter Safety
\nTraining Instructor) \u2013 Dave Faccini, Town of Niagara (a member of
\nthe LaSalle Sportsmen\u2019s Club). <\/p>\n

Ken Berner Memorial Conservation Award (to the person, family or
\norganization dedicated to conservation) \u2013 Paul Dewey of Lockport for
\nhis BOCES Conservation Program. <\/p>\n

John Daly Memorial Award (Legislator of the Year) \u2013 Niagara County
\nSheriff James Voutour. <\/p>\n

Victor Fitchlee Memorial Award (Lifetime Achievement) \u2013 Retired
\nEnvironmental Conservation Officer James Rogers of Grand Island. <\/p>\n

President\u2019s Award (selected by 2015 president Doug Walck) \u2013 Dave
\nKern, Sr. of Lockport. <\/p>\n

John Long, Sr. Memorial Award (Top Business or Businessperson) \u2013
\nMyles Tool of Sanborn. <\/p>\n

There will be other award winners that will be honored on the Don
\nBronson Memorial Conservation Wall of Fame (located at Cornell
\nCooperative Extension Niagara in Lockport). Get out there and
\nsupport these unsung heroes of conservation. We\u2019ll have a full write
\nup of their accomplishments in the April 17 column right here. On a
\nfinal note, we are just scratching the surface as far as recognizing
\npeople behind the scenes. Like the NY Lottery, you have to be in it
\nto win it and every single club in this county should be nominating
\nat least one individual every year for at least one category. Keep
\nthat in mind moving forward. Now it\u2019s up to pay homage to the
\ncurrent winners \u2013 all well-deserving!
\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n

 <\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n\n\n
\n

\nMaking Dream Come True with Hunt of Lifetime
\n<\/font><\/b>\n<\/p>\n

\nAs
\nthe saying goes, when life throws you a lemon, the best way to
\napproach it is to make lemonade. For Leah Manth, a freshman at
\nNorth Tonawanda High School, her lemon if you will is a rare
\nneurological disorder called Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2). She
\nis lacking a protein and as a result she develops tumors along
\nher nervous system. She has several tumors on her brain and
\nalong her spine currently and just in the last five years she
\nhas had to deal with eight major surgeries. She has partial
\nhearing loss and some facial paralysis. It\u2019s a hardship no one
\nshould have to endure, let alone a young lady entering the prime
\nof her life. She\u2019s a fighter, for sure. <\/p>\n

Leah is a member of the Junior Honor Society, Varsity Cross
\nCountry, Varsity Indoor Track, Varsity Outdoor Track and the
\nDECA Club. She loves school, arts and crafts, playing games,
\nrunning and triathalons. She also loves to hunt and fish. This
\nis a story about Leah and a hunting adventure that she was able
\nto go on this year thanks to an organization called \u201cHunt of a
\nLifetime.\u201d <\/p>\n

\u201cHunt of a Lifetime\u201d is an organization that was formed out of
\nnecessity. When Matt Pattison of Pennsylvania turned to the Make
\na Wish Foundation to fulfill a dream of enjoying a moose hunt
\nwith this father, he found out that the organization didn\u2019t
\ngrant wishes involved with hunting. Matt\u2019s mother, Lisa,
\nliterally took matters into her own hands and was able to put
\ntogether a hunt of a lifetime \u2013 a moose hunt in Alberta, Canada
\n\u2013 thanks to donations from a long list of giving individuals.
\nSix months after his hunt, Matt passed away \u2026 and his mother
\ntook up the cause of forming HOAL. That was 1999. <\/p>\n

Hunt of a Lifetime ( www.huntofalifetime.org<\/a>
\n] has been helping
\nterminally-ill children fulfill their dreams since that time, be
\nit a hunting or fishing adventure. Leah\u2019s father, John Manth, is
\na high school teacher at Erie BOCES 1 and last year he was made
\naware of HOAL when one of his students received an elk hunt
\nthrough the organization. It came highly recommended so Manth
\ntook it upon himself to fill out the paperwork with Leah to try
\nand go on a hunt in Quebec for caribou and black bear. They were
\ngranted their wish earlier this year. <\/p>\n

The end of August saw John and his daughter, along with his 16
\nyear old son Chris (and Leah\u2019s brother), make the trip to Leaf
\nRiver, Quebec \u2013 the farthest north that the province allows for
\noutfitting. Their outfitter was Leaf River Lodge and their guide
\nwas Remi Laprise, a weeklong adventure into the Canadian
\nwilderness. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe hunt was more than just a hunt,\u201d said Manth, \u201cit was an
\nadventure for the three of us. We drove from North Tonawanda to
\nMontreal where we boarded a plane for the first leg of their
\njourney.\u201d Rough weather forced them to wait three hours before
\nthey took a float plane for the last three hour leg to Leaf
\nRiver. <\/p>\n

The first step was to sight the guns in and, after several weeks
\nof practice with a Savage Arms .270 that was donated to her from
\nthe company, young Leah hit the bullseye first time out to prove
\nthat she was ready for the hunt \u2013 outshooting the other hunters
\nwho were participating in similar hunts through this outfitter.
\nGame on! <\/p>\n

\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n
\n\n\n
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++<\/p>\n

The Outdoor Beat show airs on Channel 22 in Niagara County. It also
\nairs in Erie County. If you don\u2019t have Time Warner Cable you can go
\non the website at www.lctv.net<\/a>  to watch it live simulcast or you can
\ncheck the On Demand section of the website in a day or two to see
\nthis show and any of the other Outdoor Beat episodes. The 4 pm shows
\nalso air on 90.5 FM if you want to catch it on the radio.
\n <\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p><\/div>\n

\n
\n\n\n
\n


\nBe sure to vote in our mini-poll HERE<\/a><\/font><\/b><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n<\/div>\n


\n
\nOur Leaders remembered – Outdoors Niagara
\nExclusive<\/span><\/font><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\nCurt Meddaugh VIP – Remembered<\/font>
\n<\/font><\/b>
\nMAY<\/b><\/font>
\n23 2010<\/font><\/b><\/p>\n
\nLOTSA Pen Rearing Project Complete,
\nLeader Passes On<\/font><\/b><\/p>\n

In a recent correspondence from Curt Meddaugh <\/b>
\n[Pictured] <\/b>of Pendleton,
\nproject leader for the Lake Ontario Trout and Salmon Association\u2019s
\nsalmon and trout pen rearing project out of Olcott, you could read
\nbetween the lines \u2013 he was excited by the results of the 2010 effort of
\nrearing salmon and trout in the Town of Newfane Marina. Of course, when
\nhe reported on the project at the Niagara County Fisheries Development
\nBoard meetings, he was like a little kid \u2013visibly excited when he
\nupdated everyone at the April meeting \u2013 so it was easy to read between
\nthe lines. To him, these were his babies and he was the proud papa.<\/p>\n

That said, he was always quick to give credit where credit was due. He
\nwould constantly recognize the many workers that made things happen,
\nwith the end result being much improved growth and increased survival
\nfor these fish once they were released in the lake. The steelhead
\narrived at 29 fish per pound. Those same fish were released three weeks
\nlater at 16.5 fish per pound. Three pens full of Chinook salmon arrived
\nin Olcott at 140 fish per pound. When they were released into Lake
\nOntario, they were at 68.5 fish per pound, more than doubling in size in
\njust three weeks time.
\n 
\nHis constant reminders, updates and organizational notes helped to keep
\nthe work force and media informed. His final instruction for the project
\nwas organizing the pulling of the pens and the final clean up of the
\nnetting \u2026 until next year. For Meddaugh, though, his job complete for
\nthis year, he would not return. He passed on to a much bigger project
\nlast Saturday when he died quickly, quietly sitting in his chair at
\nhome. He was only 59, much too young for the plans the fishing community
\nhad for him; and the plans his wife Mary Lou and their family had. It
\ncame as a shock for all. Even though he had a brief history of heart
\nproblems, he was feeling good and loving life. <\/p>\n

At the memorial service, it was evident two things were his biggest
\nloves \u2013 family and the water, with a big focus on fishing. Joe Yeager<\/b>,
\none of the LOTSA leaders, pointed out all the things that Meddaugh meant
\nto the club: \u201cYou name it, he was involved with everything fish-related
\nwhen it came to Lake Ontario. He was the guy that always took the time
\nto make hatchery trips, attend meetings like the Lake Ontario
\nSportfishing Stakeholders group, the county Fisheries Board, State of
\nthe Lake and more \u2013 and then report back to his club. He was responsible
\nfor rallying the troops when DEC needed additional eggs for the
\nhatchery, organizing volunteers at 18 Mile Creek in Newfane. He loved to
\nteach kids how to fish and was involved with the kids fishing program
\nfor LOTSA for the past seven years. Through his direction as club
\nmembership secretary, membership grew from 25 to more than 250. He
\nplayed a major role in the club\u2019s Salmon Spectacular, raising money for
\nthe pen projects. His most important contribution was with the pens. He
\nwas the member who stepped up and took full responsibility for this huge
\nproject and turned it into a success.\u201d<\/p>\n

When an issue came up, Curt would research it thoroughly so that he
\ncould speak knowledgeably. And with everything, he was passionate about
\nthings that could impact \u201chis\u201d fishery – positively or negatively. He
\nwas just as passionate about family and friends. When I was subjected to
\na couple hospital stays last fall, he would call to find out how I was
\ndoing \u2013 sincerely concerned over my well being. If work needed to be
\naccomplished or a meeting needed to be attended, Curt was always willing
\nand not afraid to get involved or share an opinion. There are no
\nreplacing guys like Meddaugh. They are the ones that truly make a
\ndifference while they enjoyed their time in this world\u2026and we are better
\nfor it. He\u2019s enjoying another world for sure right now. We\u2019ll miss you,
\nman!<\/p>\n

 <\/p><\/div>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n

\n
\n\n\n
\n

OUR VIP’S<\/b><\/font><\/p>\n

\nOgnibene Didn\u2019t Pull Any Punches<\/font><\/b><\/p>\n

The passing of 84 year old Joe Ognibene of Grand Island marks the end of
\nan era for sportsmen in Western New York. He passed along his stories,
\ninsights, outdoor knowledge, commendations and criticisms for over five
\ndecades \u2013 through his printed words, photographs and, for many years, on
\ntelevision through his \u201cOutdoor Scene\u201d cable show. <\/p>\n

Ognibene told it like it was \u2013 in his eyes anyway. He didn\u2019t pull any
\npunches. He once told me that his newspaper reporter mentality helped
\nhim to dig a little deeper, play devil\u2019s advocate and stir a little
\ncontroversy to keep people on their toes. Whether it was giving the New
\nYork Bowhunters a left hook on the crossbow issue or giving an animal
\nrights group a quick jab on some stupid stand, Ognibene let his feelings
\nbe known. If he didn\u2019t like something, you knew it \u2026 and so did they.
\n 
\n\u201cJoe was proud of the fact that he was the first person to plunk down $5
\nat Mark\u2019s Tackle so that he could be the first member of the newly
\nformed Niagara River Anglers Association back in 1982,\u201d said Mark Daul,
\nproprietor of Mark\u2019s Tackle and one of the early cornerstone of the NRAA
\nconcept. \u201cMy brain is filled with Joe O. stories, like the time we were
\nfertilizing the NRAA walleye ponds and he drove right into the pond with
\nhis four wheeler! Or another time he was putting a new rod tip on a
\nguy\u2019s rod at my tackle shop and he was heating the tip with a match.
\nHowever he heated the tip a bit too much and melted the end of the
\ncustomer’s rod right off – in front of him! But it was okay because Joe
\nOgnibene did it. We were great friends and we did a lot of things
\ntogether. They were the best times I ever had in my life. It was great
\nto be with a straight and honest guy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Bill Hilts, Sr. of Sanborn worked alongside Ognibene for many years,
\nalso as an outdoor writer. He made these comments: \u201cJoe Ognibene really
\ncovered the outdoor scene when he was the outdoor scribe for the Niagara
\nGazette . He hunted and fished with a passion and carried that passion
\nto the pages of the Gazette and into his popular TV show. I was proud to
\ncall him a friend.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy most memorable story was several years ago he planned a fishing
\nouting to Lake Temagami in northern Ontario and he was having trouble
\nwith his outboard motor. He called me to see if he could borrow one of
\nmine and I had a 25 horsepower outboard which I offered to him and he
\neagerly accepted. Well, as the story goes, the group traveled quite a
\ndistance in the remote portions of the Temagami wilderness and in the
\nprocess hit a rock pile \u2013 knocking the lower unit off the engine. With
\nno power, they had to dive in the chilling waters in order to recover
\nthe unit. They were successful, but how to reattach it to the rest of
\nthe engine?<\/p>\n

\u201cThey found a nut and bolt in someone\u2019s tackle box and reattached the
\nunit and got the engine running. They were in the middle of that huge
\nlake when suddenly the boat stopped moving. Yes, the bolt did not hold
\nand the unit was lost in one of the deepest parts of the lake. Diving
\nfor it was not possible. I understand the Canadian Mounties were
\nnotified and they had to come out and rescue the Ognibene party.
\n\u201cA few days later, Joe pulled into my driveway and returned the motor,
\nwhich was much lighter than when he left, minus the entire lower unit.
\nIn fact, the motor was in pieces in a bushel basket. He didn\u2019t even
\nleave me a few fish to fry up.\u201d It was okay because he was Joe Ognibene,
\nthough. He’s still laughing.<\/p>\n

Joe Urso of Niagara Falls served as president of the NRAA for 10 of the
\nyears during the Ognibene era. His most memorable Ognibene moment was
\nwhen he was involved with filming one of the \u201cOutdoor Scene\u201d shows
\nfocusing on walleye in the lower Niagara River.
\n\u201cI was fishing with Ron Stella at the time and Larry \u201cCatfish\u201d
\nGarabedian was helping Joe O. by operating the camera boat. The first
\nday of fishing we managed to catch a few walleye to give the NRAA
\nrearing ponds a plug, but right in the middle of the filming, Joe\u2019s
\ncamera starts smoking. I mean, the camera really fried! I thought it was
\ngoing to start on fire. The show came out great, but there were so many
\nthings that happened that all helped to make it more memorable, like the
\nfood smorgasbord that Stella always put together on his boat or Catfish
\njumping in the water for a swim right in the middle of filming because
\nhe was hot. I guess the point that I was making was that Ognibene was an
\nevery man\u2019s kind of guy. Not everything was perfect, but he got the job
\ndone. We will miss him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Frank Campbell of Niagara Falls, a former NRAA Board member and current
\nchairman of the Niagara County Fisheries Development Board, grew up
\nwatching the \u201cOutdoor Scene\u201d and reading his columns every Sunday. \u201cHis
\nfavorite phrase on the show was \u2018that\u2019s about as nice a fish as you
\ncould ask for\u2019 and it didn\u2019t matter what kind of fish it was. Joe made a
\nhuge impact on not only the local scene, but the rubber tire market as
\nhis cable show reached out to places like Syracuse, Pittsburgh and
\nbeyond. He helped to create awareness for the fantastic resources that
\nwe have here on our doorstep.\u201d<\/p>\n

Yes, Joe was a popular guy (and not so popular with some special
\ninterest groups) on the local front, but I remember at outdoor shows in
\nSyracuse and Pittsburgh, time and time again people would stop to stare
\nat a picture of Joe Ognibene holding up a fish that I had on my booth
\nback drop. \u201cDo you know Joe Ognibene?\u201d they would ask me in awe. And
\nwhen they found out we were friends, they would be in amazement. We
\nreally didn\u2019t see the impact he had on our area as a whole.<\/p>\n

Like him or not, Ognibene had a huge impact on the outdoor fraternity.
\nHe dedicated the better part of his life through his communications to
\nthis group. I liked him and respected him. He will be missed my many,
\nincluding me. Happy trails, Joe!<\/p>\n

\n

\nMudge Passes On \u2013 12\/19\/09<\/b><\/p>\n

We lost another one of the good guys. Bill Mudge of Gasport died earlier
\nthis month unexpectedly. From the standpoint of supporting our Second
\nAmendment rights, our county didn\u2019t have a bigger supporter. He was up
\non every kind of gun legislation through the Shooters Committee On
\nPolitical Education (SCOPE) and was always giving the Niagara County
\nFederation of Conservation Clubs updates on what was happening locally,
\nstatewide and what was happening nationally. He was an active member of
\nthe Iroquois Arms Collectors Association, the National Rifle Association
\n(and supported the local Friends of the NRA group), the Parker Gun Club,
\nthe 3-F Club and was the current recording secretary of the county\u2019s
\nFederation. He was a true volunteer in every sense of the word, someone
\nyou could count on to help when there was work that needed to be done.
\nThere\u2019s no replacing a guy like that. We\u2019ll miss you, Bill! <\/p>\n

\n

\nVince Caterina Dies at 84 \u2013<\/font><\/b>
\n<\/font>
\n
\nAnother outdoor icon has passed on. Vince Caterina of Niagara Falls,
\nproprietor of Rapids Gun Shop for over 50 years, passed away recently.
\nLocal shooter Mike George of Niagara Falls recalled purchasing his first
\ngun from him and was also instrumental in purchasing his house on Cayuga
\nIsland. \u201cVince was influential in getting local sportsmen their first
\nfirearms for shooting or hunting,\u201d said George as he reminisced. \u201cHe was
\na bombardier with the 501st Bombing Squadron and a life member of the
\nNational Rifle Association. We can\u2019t replace guys like these. He will be
\nmissed.\u201d <\/p>\n

\n
\nTom Brown Passes On
\n<\/font>
\n<\/b>
\nDowntown Tommy Brown of Ransomville passed away recently, a regular
\nfixture in the county’s Niagara River charter fishing fleet for many
\nyears. He was owner and operator of Sea Sprite Charters, a daring guide
\nwho would take some adventurous steps to get his customers fish. He was a
\npast president of the Fin-Feather-Fur Conservation Society in Lewiston, as
\nwell as a long time member. He will be missed.<\/p>\n

\nWriter Ken Sprenger Passes \u2013 <\/font><\/b><\/p>\n

Long time outdoor scribe Ken Sprenger of North Tonawanda passed away
\non Sept. 25, a columnist for the Lockport Union Sun and Tonawanda
\nNews for many years. He was 87 years of age. He was a member of the
\nNew York State Outdoor Writers Association since 1970 and was also a
\nmember of the Outdoor Writers Association of America. I have fond
\nmemories of \u201cUncle Ken\u201d as we traveled the country together
\nattending OWAA conferences in places like Saskatchewan \u2013 the Hilts
\nfamily and the Sprenger family jockeying for position as we camped
\nacross the U.S. <\/p>\n

On the local scene, he was a founding member of the Niagara County
\nFisheries Development Board and a former president of the Niagara
\nCounty Federation of Conservation Clubs. He was also a special
\nConservation Deputy with the county\u2019s Sheriff\u2019s Department. A
\nlifetime member of the Tonawanda Sportsmen\u2019s Club, Sprenger was all
\nabout the shore fisherman. He was their champion as he fought for
\naccess and special consideration when it came to casting from the
\nbank or pier. May he rest in peace \u2026 with a rod in hand, casting
\nfrom shore alongside Peter the Apostle \u2026 the fisherman.<\/p>\n

\nMcMurtry Passes \u2013
\n<\/b>
\n
\nThe sportsmen\u2019s and conservation community lost another leader
\nthis past week with the passing of Carl McMurtry of Youngstown.
\nA lifelong outdoorsman, he was an active member of Ducks
\nUnlimited and the Three-F Club, as well as the Niagara River
\nAnglers Association. He was an accomplished craftsman, too,
\ncarving wood to near perfection as it mimicked fish and birds \u2013
\ntwo of his passions in life. Whenever I saw him in a room, he
\nwould always find the time to come over and say hi. We\u2019ll miss
\nhis smiling face here, but I\u2019m sure he will still be smiling as
\nhe looks down on us from above. He was one of the old timers and
\nthere\u2019s no replacing these important individuals from a bygone
\nera. Condolences to the family.<\/p>\n

\n <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n<\/div>\n

\n


\nGo to Hilts Weekly Weekend Fish
\nLocator page…Updated every Friday on this website<\/a><\/b><\/font><\/p>\n


\n
\nCAPTAIN DOUG STEIN REMEMBERED 1947-2009<\/font><\/a><\/span><\/b><\/font><\/p>\n

\n

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\n<\/font>
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\nsure to bookmark us! <\/o:p><\/font>
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Go to Hilts Weekend Fish Locator<\/b><\/a>
\n\/ 
\nGo to Bill Hilts Outdoors Weekly
\nColumn<\/a> \/ 
\nGo to Joe Ognibene’s "Outdoor Scene"<\/a>\/
\nGo to Will Elliott’s "Fishing
\nLine"<\/a>  \/ 
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\nVisit Outdoors Niagara Ice
\nFishing pages for local information – <\/font> <\/a>
\n<\/font>
\nRead the tips from the experts
\nincluding the Iceman Dave Genz HERE<\/font><\/a><\/b><\/font>
\n
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\nthe ice fishing pages and Wilson Harbor Ice Fishing Contest Results and
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 <\/p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

_      HOME           Pautzke Bait Co. is Outdoors Niagara’s major sponsor-please support Pautzke   "It’s Yours, use it, protect it, share it."  "Niagara‘s Premier Outdoors Website"  Exclusively on Outdoors Niagara Bill Hilts Jr. Thursdays ~ All about the outdoors Note: Hilts is Niagara County’s Outdoor Sports Specialist Email Bill Hilts Jr.           VOTE IN OUR BRAND … Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nBill Hilts Sundays - OutdoorsNiagara<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.outdoorsniagara.com\/bill_hilts_sundays\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Bill Hilts Sundays - OutdoorsNiagara\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"_      HOME           Pautzke Bait Co. is Outdoors Niagara’s major sponsor-please support Pautzke   "It’s Yours, use it, protect it, share it."  "Niagara‘s Premier Outdoors Website"  Exclusively on Outdoors Niagara Bill Hilts Jr. Thursdays ~ All about the outdoors Note: Hilts is Niagara County’s Outdoor Sports Specialist Email Bill Hilts Jr.           VOTE IN OUR BRAND ... 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